Overweight and obesity

Obesity is unfairly distributed, with some Australians at higher risk. Economic and social barriers, and the areas in which people live all impact on the availability of and access to environments that promote and support healthier lifestyles (Commonwealth of Australia 2022).

Remoteness areas

Based on AIHW analysis of measured data from the ABS 2022–24 NHMS, the proportion of adults aged 18 and over living with overweight or obesity was (Figure 9):

• 65% in Major cities
• 73% in Inner regional areas
• 74% in Outer regional and remote areas.

After adjusting for the effects of age, more adults in Inner regional and Outer regional and remote areas were living with overweight or obesity than those in Major cities. This pattern was also observed for obesity, where more people in Inner Regional and Outer regional and remote (both 39%) areas were living with obesity, compared with those in Major cities (31%) (Figure 9). 

The proportion of adults aged 18 and over living with abdominal obesity was (Figure 9):

• 45% in Major cities
• 55% in Inner regional areas
• 56% in Outer regional and remote areas.

After adjusting for the effects of age, more adults in Inner regional and Outer regional and remote areas were living with abdominal obesity, compared with those in Major cities (Figure 9).

No statistically significant variations in overweight and obesity across remoteness areas were seen in children aged 2–17.

Socioeconomic areas

The proportion of Australians living with overweight or obesity also varied by socioeconomic area. 

Based on AIHW analysis of measured data from the ABS 2022–24 NHMS, children and adolescents aged 2–17 in the lowest socioeconomic (most disadvantaged) areas were more likely to be living with overweight or obesity (36%) than those in the highest socioeconomic (least disadvantaged) areas (22%) (Figure 10). The proportion of children and adolescents living with obesity was also higher in the lowest socioeconomic areas (15%) compared with the highest socioeconomic areas (5.1%) (Figure 10).

For adults aged 18 and over, the proportion living with overweight or obesity was 70% in the lowest socioeconomic areas and 62% in the highest socioeconomic areas, in 2022–24. After adjusting for age, this difference was statistically significant. The prevalence of obesity was the underlying reason for this difference by socioeconomic area, with 40% of males and 39% of females in the lowest socioeconomic areas living with obesity, compared with 28% of males and 23% of females in the highest socioeconomic areas (Figure 9).

The proportion of adults aged 18 and over with abdominal overweight or obesity was 73% in the lowest socioeconomic areas and 64% in the highest socioeconomic areas. After adjusting for age, this difference was significant. The prevalence of abdominal obesity was the underlying reason for this difference by socioeconomic area, particularly in females, where 64% in the lowest socioeconomic areas were living with abdominal obesity compared with 44% in the highest socioeconomic areas. For males, 46% in the lowest socioeconomic were living with abdominal obesity compared with 37% in the highest socioeconomic areas (Figure 9).

People with disability

People living with a disability were also more likely to be living with overweight or obesity. There can be particular challenges for people living with disabilities in modifying some risk factors; for example, where extra assistance is needed to achieve a physically active lifestyle. For more information, see Disability.

Based on AIHW analysis of measured data from the ABS 2022 NHS, 73% of adults with disability were living with overweight or obesity, compared to 63% of adults without disability. Those with core limitations (75%) were also more likely than those with no core limitations (64%) to be living with overweight or obesity.

In 2022, those living with disability were also more likely (59%) to be living with abdominal obesity than those without disability (41%). Those with core limitations (64%) were also more likely than those with no core limitations (43%) to be living with abdominal obesity.

Primary Health Networks

The Darling Downs and West Moreton Primary Health Network (PHN) area had the highest prevalence of overweight or obesity, with nearly 4 in 5 (78%) adults living with overweight or obesity. The Northern Sydney PHN area had the lowest prevalence, with just over half of adults living with overweight or obesity (53%) (Figure 11). These findings are based on AIHW analysis of ABS 2022–24 NHMS.

After removing the effects of the age structure of these populations (through age-standardisation of data), the Darling Downs and West Moreton PHN area remained the highest, and the Northern Sydney PHN area remained the lowest (Figure 11).

International comparisons

International comparisons of the prevalence of overweight and obesity can be made for member countries of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD). Comparisons for measured body weight are based on data from 2024 or the latest available year from 2010 onwards (OECD 2025).

Australia ranked 10th out of 21 countries with available data for the proportion of people aged 15 and over who were living with overweight or obesity (64%) – this was greater than the OECD average of 60% (Figure 12).

When comparing the proportion of men and women living with obesity across OECD countries, Australia ranked fourth for the proportion of men living with obesity (32%), behind New Zealand (33%), Hungary (36%) and the United States (40%). The proportion of obesity in women in Australia was ninth highest out of 21 countries (30%) – higher than the OECD average of 26% for women (Figure 12).

Australia is among a number of OECD member countries in which the prevalence of overweight and obesity have increased over recent decades. This increase is driven by the increased proportion of people living with obesity (Figure 13).

For more information, see Measures of health and health care for Australia and similar countries.